Stefan Hantel (AKA Shantel) has long eschewed the tech-heavy elements of dance music in favor of a more organic sound. Though born in Frankfurt, Shantel's journeys through Europe and the Middle East seem to have freed him of the allegiance that many of his countrymen share to a clinical techno/electro sound. Instead, his creative output has been a study in genre-bending.

Like Shantel's last full-length, 1998's highly-acclaimed Higher Than The Funk, Great Delay crosses genres seamlessly. Great Delay touches on all the phases that Shantel has explored as an artist -- tracks range from house to bossa to trip-hop to batucada to deep dub -- but instead of coming across as an incoherent mess, Great Delay is unified through a genuine, organic soulfulness. A track like the exuberant and funky "Crystal" is followed directly by the downtempo, orchestral "Believe", but it all works thanks to a blissful and irresistible vibe.

In addition, the combination of organic and synthetic, acoustic and electronic, and the collaboration with guest artists reveals the experimentation and ambition behind this album. The opening track, appropriately titled "L´Intro", sets the pace for all the songs that follow: acoustic guitars, a string section, and a Brazilian tempo define the song's open, spacious mood, and the twelve tracks that follow continue the interplay of various musical elements. Most importantly, Shantel even treats the delay effect as an instrument, utilizing it on nearly every song, and having the overall effect of giving a sonic unity of ambience to the album despite the diversity of each track.

Whether Great Delay's release just in time for summer is a coincidence or not is a matter of conjecture, but either way, Shantel has created a perfect soundtrack for the sensual, warm months ahead. Highly recommended.